Resonant subband Landau level coupling in symmetric quantum well

Subband structure and depolarization shifts in an ultrahigh mobility GaAs/Al0.24Ga0.76As quantum well are studied using magnetoinfrared spectroscopy via resonant subband Landau level coupling. Resonant couplings between the first and up to the fourth subbands are identified by well-separated antilevel-crossing split resonance, while the hy-lying subbands were identified by the cyclotron resonance linewidth broadening in the literature. In addition, a forbidden intersubband transition (first to third) has been observed. With the precise determination of the subband structure, we find that the depolarization shift can be well described by the semiclassical slab plasma model and the possible origins for the forbidden transition are discussed.

Investigation on the influence of methanol on adsorption and leaching of pesticides with soil column liquid chromatography

The effect of methanol of low concentration on adsorption and leaching of atrazine and tebuconazole was studied in this paper. The adsorption coefficients and the retardation factors (R-m) of pesticides on EUROSOIL 3# log-linearly decreased as volumetric fraction of methanol (f(c)) was increased in the binary solvent mixtures of methanol and water. These data are consistent with solvophobic theory formerly outlined for describing the adsorption and transport of hydrophobic organic chemicals from mixed solvents. Nevertheless, the adsorption of these pesticides in soil-water system slightly increased when the soil was pre-washed with methanol in comparison with that pre-washed with water (pure water system). Furthermore, their adsorption coefficients were still higher in binary solvent systems with methanol of very low concentrations, i.e. f(c) < 0.03 for atrazine and f(c) < 0.01 for tebuconazole, than those in pure water system. The adsorption coefficients (logK(w)) of atrazine and tebuconazole predicted by solvophobic theory were 0.5792 and 1.6525, respectively, and their experimental logK(w) were 0.3701 and 1.6275 in pure water system. Obviously, the predicted log K-w of the two pesticides was higher than the experimental log K-w in pure water system. The predicted K-w and the retardation factor (R-w) in pure water system by solvophobic theory are thus possibly inaccurate. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Extraction and separation of cadmium(II), iron(III), zinc(II), and europium(III) by Cyanex302 solutions using hollow fiber membrane modules

The mass transfer behaviors of Cd(II), Fe(III), Zn(II), and Eu(III) in sulfuric acid solution using microporous hollow fiber membrane (HFM) containing bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)monothiophosphinic acid (commercial name Cyanex302) were investigated in this paper. The experimental results showed that the values of the mass transfer coefficients (K-w) decreased with an increase of H+ concentration and increased with an increase of extractant Cyanex302 concentration. The mass transfer resistance of Eu3+ was the largest because K-w value of Eu3+ was the smallest. The order of mass transfer rate of metal ions at low pH was Cd > Zn > Fe > Eu. Mixtures of Zn2+ and Eu3+ or of Zn2+ and Cd2+ were well separated in a counter-current circulation experiment using two modules connected in series at different initial acidity and concentration ratio. These results indicate that a hollow fiber membrane extractor is capable of separating the mixture compounds by controlling the acidity of the aqueous solution and by exploiting different mass transfer kinetics. The interfacial activity of Cyanex302 in sulfuric acid solution was measured and interfacial parameters were obtained according to Gibbs adsorption equation.

Localization of the electric-field distribution in graded core-shell metamaterials

The local electric-field distribution has been investigated in a core-shell cylindrical metamaterial structure under the illumination of a uniform incident optical field. The structure consists of a homogeneous dielectric core, a shell of graded metal-dielectric metamaterial, embedded in a uniform matrix. In the quasistatic limit, the permittivity of the metamaterial is given by the graded Drude model. The local electric potentials and hence the electric fields have been derived exactly and analytically in terms of hypergeometric functions. Our results showed that the peak of the electric field inside the cylindrical shell can be confined in a desired position by varying the frequency of the optical field and the parameters of the graded profiles. Thus, by fabricating graded metamaterials, it is possible to control electric-field distribution spatially. We offer an intuitive explanation for the gradation-controlled electric-field distribution.

Total analytical method for Radix astragali extract using two-binary multi-segment gradient elution liquid chromatography

There is an urgent need for thorough analysis of Radix astragali, a widely used Chinese herb, for quality control purposes. This paper describes the development of a total analytical method for Radix astragali extract, a multi-component complex mixture. Twenty-four components were separated step by step from the extract using a series of isocratic isopropanol-methanol elutions, and then 42 components were separated similarly using methanol-water elutions. Based on the log k(w) and -S of the 66 components obtained from the above procedure and the optimization software developed in our laboratory, an optimum elution program consisting of seven methanol-water segments and four isopropanol-methanol segments was developed to finish the task of analyzing the total components in a single run. Under optimized gradient conditions, the sample of Radix astragali extract was analyzed. As expected, most of the components were well separated and the experimental chromatogram was in a good agreement with the predicted one.

A new method of predicting of gas chromatographic retention indices for polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs)

A new method has been developed to describe the quantitative relationship between molecular structures of PCDFs and their gas chromatographic retention indices on a 30-m fused silica column coated with DB-5 stationary phase. The regression equation is derived with a multiple correlation coefficient greater than 0.9995. The highest residual is 20 index units. The standard deviation is less than 7 index units. Using this regression equation, the retention indices of PCDFs for which data is not available have also been predicted. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Soil column chromatography for correlation between capacity factors and soil organic partition coefficients for eight pesticides

A soil column chromatographic method was developed to measure the capacity factors (k') of pesticides, in which soil acted as a stationary phase and methanol-water mixture as an eluent. The k' values of eight pesticides, including three insecticides (methiocarb, azinphos-methyl, fenthion), four fungicides (triadimenol, fuberidazole, tebuconazole, pencycuron), and one herbicide (atrazine), were found to be well fitted to a retention equation, ln k'=ln k(w)'-S-phi. Due to similar interactions of solutes with soil and solvent in both sorption determination and retention experiment, log k' has a good linear correlation with log K-oc for the eight pesticides from different classes, in contrast with poor correlation between log k' from C-18 column and log K-oc. So the method provides a tool for rapid estimation of K-oc from experimental k'. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Prediction of soil organic partition coefficients by a soil leaching column chromatographic method

The soil organic partition coefficient (K-oc) is one of the most important parameters to depict the transfer and fate of a chemical in the soil-water system. Predicting K-oc by using a chromatographic technique has been developing into a convenient and low-cost method. In this paper, a soil leaching column chromatograpy (SLCC) method employing the soil column packed with reference soil GSE 17201 (obtained from Bayer Landwirtschaftszentrum, Monheim, Germany) and methanol-water eluents was developed to predict the K-oc of hydrophobic organic chemicals (HOCs), over a log K-oc range of 4.8 orders of magnitude, from their capacity factors. The capacity factor with water as an eluent (k(w)') could be obtained by linearly extrapolating capacity factors in methanol-water eluents (k') with various volume fractions of methanol (phi). The important effects of solute activity coefficients in water on k(w)' and K-oc were illustrated. Hence, the correlation between log K-oc and log k(w)' (and log k') exists in the soil. The correlation coefficient (r) of the log K-oc vs. log k(w)' correlation for 58 apolar and polar compounds could reach 0.987, while the correlation coefficients of the log K-oc-log k' correlations were no less than 0.968, with phi ranging from 0 to 0.50. The smaller the phi, the higher the r. Therefore, it is recommended that the eluent of smaller phi, such as water, be used for accurately estimating K-oc. Correspondingly, the r value of the log K-oc-log k(w)' correlation on a reversed-phase Hypersil ODS (Thermo Hypersil, Kleinostheim, Germany) column was less than 0.940 for the same solutes. The SLCC method could provide a more reliable route to predict K-oc indirectly from a correlation with k(w)' than the reversed-phase liquid chromatographic (RPLC) one.

Discriminating the xanthones in an extract of Swertia franchetiana by retention parameters

The quantitative structure-retention relationship is one of the most actively studied topics in the field of chromatography. In this paper, retention parameters of components were used to discriminate the xanthones in a methanol extract of Swertia franchetiana. The extract was analysed by HPLC under two different multistage linear gradient conditions and the retention parameters calculated from these retention data. It was found that the retention parameters of xanthones are in a specific region in the plot of log k(w) vs. S and the xanthones in the extract could be distinguished from other components by this feature. Furthermore, xanthone aglycones and xanthone glucosides could also be discriminated by retention parameters. Copyright (C) 2005 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.

Novel ingredients from brewers' spent grain - bioactivity in cell culture model systems and bioactivity retention in fortified food products

Functional food ingredients, with scientifically proven and validated bioactive effects, present an effective means of inferring physiological health benefits to consumers to reduce the risk of certain diseases. The search for novel bioactive compounds for incorporation into functional foods is particularly active, with brewers’ spent grain (BSG, a brewing industry co-product) representing a unique source of potentially bioactive compounds. The DNA protective, antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects of phenolic extracts from both pale (P1 - P4) and black (B1 – B4) BSG were examined. Black BSG extracts significantly (P < 0.05) protected against DNA damage induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and extracts with the highest total phenolic content (TPC) protected against 3-morpholinosydnonimine hydrochloride (SIN-1)-induced oxidative DNA damage, measured by the comet assay. Cellular antioxidant activity assays were used to measured antioxidant potential in the U937 cell line. Extracts P1 – P3 and B2 - B4 demonstrated significant (P < 0.05) antioxidant activity, measured by the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, catalase (CAT) activity and gluatathione (GSH) content assays. Phenolic extracts P2 and P3 from pale BSG possess anti-inflammatory activity measured in concanavalin-A (conA) stimulated Jurkat T cells by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); significantly (P < 0.05) reducing production of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-4 (IL-4, P2 only), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Black BSG phenolic extracts did not exhibit anti-inflammatory effects in vitro. Hydroxycinnamic acids (HA) have previously been shown to be the phenolic acids present at highest concentration in BSG; therefore the HA profile of the phenolic extracts used in this research, the original barley (before brewing) and whole BSG was characterised and quantified using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The concentration of HA present in the samples was in the order of ferulic acid (FA) > p-coumaric acid (p-CA) derivatives > FA derivatives > p-CA > caffeic acid (CA) > CA derivatives. Results suggested that brewing and roasting decreased the HA content. Protein hydrolysates from BSG were also screened for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. A total of 34 BSG protein samples were tested. Initial analyses of samples A – J found the protein samples did not exert DNA protective effects (except hydrolysate H) or antioxidant effects by the comet and SOD assays, respectively. Samples D, E, F and J selectively reduced IFN-γ production (P < 0.05) in Jurkat T cells, measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Further testing of hydrolysates K – W, including fractionated hydrolysates with molecular weight < 3, < 5 and > 5 kDa, found that higher molecular weight (> 5 kDa) and unfractionated hydrolysates demonstrate greatest anti-inflammatory effects, while fractionated hydrolysates were also shown to have antioxidant activity, by the SOD activity assay. A commercially available yogurt drink (Actimel) and snack-bar and chocolate-drink formulations were fortified with the most bioactive phenolic and protein samples – P2, B2, W, W < 3 kDa, W < 5 kDa, W > 5 kDa. All fortified foods were subjected to a simulated gastrointestinal in vitro digestion procedure and bioactivity retention in the digestates was determined using the comet and ELISA assays. Yogurt fortified with B2 digestate significantly (P < 0.05) protected against H2O2-induced DNA damage in Caco-2 cells. Greatest immunomodulatory activity was demonstrated by the snack-bar formulation, significantly (P < 0.05) reducing IFN-γ production in con-A stimulated Jurkat T cells. Hydrolysate W significantly (P < 0.05) increased the IFN-γ reducing capacity of the snack-bar. Addition of fractionated hydrolysate W < 3 kDa and W < 5 kDa to yogurt also reduced IL-2 production to a greater extent than the unfortified yogurt (P < 0.05).

The impact of host-microbe interactions on murine colonic secretomotor function

The overall objective of this thesis was to gain further insight into the mechanisms underlying commensal microbial influences on intestinal ion transport. In this regard, I examined the impact of commensal host-microbe interactions on colonic secretomotor function in mouse. I first examined the influence of two different probiotic (microorganisms which, when given in adequate amounts, can confer health benefits upon the host) strains, Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 and L. salivarius UCC118 on active colonic ion transport in the mouse, using the Ussing Chamber. I found that both probiotics appear to have converging effects on ion transport at a functional level. However, L. salivarius UCC118 may preferentially inhibit neurally-evoked ion transport. Next I examined the impact of the host microbiota itself on both baseline and stimulated colonic secretomotor function as well as probiotic induced changes in ion transport. I provide further evidence that the microbiota is capable of mediating alterations in colonic ion transport, and specifically suggests that it can influence cAMP-mediated responses. Finally, it has been well documented that many probiotics elicit their effects via secreted bioactives, therefore, I studied the effects of microbially produced GABA, contained in supernatants from the commensal microbe Lactobacillus brevis DPC6108, on colonic secretomotor function. In conclusion, I believe that commensal microbes have an important and strain specific functional influence on colonic ion transport and secretomotor function and these effects can be mediated via extracellular bioactives. Moreover, I believe that functional ex-vivo studies such as those carried out in this thesis have a critical role to play in our future understanding of host-microbe interactions in the gut.